Point of purchase sales rack

ABSTRACT

A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a support includes a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves for the goods. The shelving structure has a front providing access to the goods in the rack and means are mountable on the front of the shelving structure to preclude access to the goods. The stand has a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, and the shelving structure is detachably and lockably mounted on the carrier. The shelving structure is constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.

United States Patent 1191 Spengler Sept. 2, 1975 [54] POINT OF PURCHASE SALES RACK 3,280,989 l0/l966 Melvin et al. 2l H133 3,362,543 l/l968 Boudouris 2] U133 [75] Invent Spengler, Numberg 3,387,855 6/1968 Oliver 211 133 Germany 3,486,658 12/1969 Cheslak et al. 221/287 s ig ee: do n Spengler OHG, Iqurnberg1 Acton X Germany Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles [22] F'led: July 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank J. Jordan 21 Appl. No.: 489,681

[57] ABSTRACT 30 Foreign Application priority Data A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and July 19 1973 Germany 2336846 the like and adapted to be mounted on a support inoct 2 l973 German 2349438 cludes a shelving structure having means thereon dey fining a plurality of separate shelves for the goods. [52] us. Cl 221/7, 221/92, 221/306, The shelving structure has a from providing access to Bi ,5 221/154 the goods in the rack and means are mountable on the [51] Int C12 A47F 04 front of the shelving structure to preclude access to [58] Fieid of 306 6 7 the goods. The stand has a carrier rigidly affixed 221/8 2 92 i 1/{34 thereto, and the shelving structure is detachably and 5 1 5 157 lockably mounted on the carrier. The shelving structure is constructed and arranged such that it may si- 56] References Cited multaneously be used as a transportation container for UNITED STATES PATENTS the gOOdS 2,065,845 12/1936 Weaver 108/101 x 7 Clalms, 4 Drawmg F'gures PATENTEU 2 IHYB POINT OF PURCHASE SALES RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a point of purchase sales display rack, particularly for goods such as cigarettes, adapted to be mounted adjacent to a cash register structure and having shelves for the goods with the latter being accessible from the front of the rack.

The sale of cigarettes in larger stores, supermarkets, and department stores is increasingly done at display sales racks necessitating the frequent replacement of the goods in the rack.

This necessity for replacement leads to considerable organisatory difficulties as regards the sold out cigarettes because in many cases, the personnel needed for the refilling of the sold out cigarettes are not available due to the general shortage of personnel or also because the refilling results in high expenses due to the constant removal from the internal stock. Thus it happens again and again that customers satisfy their needs for cigarettes somewhere else, because the cigarette brand which they prefer is not to be found in the sales rack.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, a point of purchase sales rack is provided, according to the present invention, with a shelving structure which may be used simultaneously as a container for the transport of the goods, the structure being lockable in the front and easily separably boited to a support which is rigidly connected to the stand carrying the cash register. This structure of a container-like shelve assembly can be easily transported when filled and need not be refilled cumbersomely where it stands, as has been the case heretofore, but such assembly may be regularly exchanged for a full rack directly by the supplier, for example the organization which runs the store or the ciga rette wholesaler. Thus the presence of all current brands is always assured, and furthermore, space for storing the cigarettes at the store's location may be saved.

The shelving structure is preferably fastened by attaching elements against lifting or dislocation. The attaching elements may be at least partly unlatchcd in order to provide for placing or replacing of the shelving structure. With this arrangement an unlatchable bolt may preferably be provided as a longitudinally movable bolt which may be locked by a cylinder lock.

The present invention may be particularly used as a point of purchase sales rack, such sales rack having its shelving made out of wire in which lateral supports are connected with each other by two base struts parallel to each other. In contradistinction to the hitherto prevailing practice to fasten such shelving structures directly to a bent tube or pipe mounted on the table carrying the cash register, henceforth a preferably plateshaped carrier may be fastened to the bent tube or pipe. Accordingly, one of the aforementioned base struts of the shelving structure is held by one of the legs of an L-shaped rigid rail of the carrier while the other base strut is held from above by a locking pin. The locking pin is lockable and also movable across a stop plate and abutting elements are provided to prevent lateral displacement of the shelving structure. It is possible to lift the shelving structure on one side by pulling back the locking bolt, thereby lifting the shelving structure off the carrier after a negligible lateral displacement. On the other hand a newly filled shelving structure may be placed upon the carrier in place of the fully or partially emptied shelving structure with one manipulation.

Spaces for legends or lettering may be provided upon the leading edges of the shelving. This is an important feature of the aforedescribed mode of use of the shelving structures in connection with quickly exchangeable containers because here the same brands of cigarettes can always be placed into identical locations or compartments.

The individual shelves of the shelving structure are divided by cross partitions into compartments for individual cigarette brands in order to prevent tumbling of leftover packages of various brands while the point of purchase sales rack is transported to the location where it is going to be filled up again. The front of the rack is closed shut while it is being transported.

Particularly simple filling or loading of several con tainer-like shelving structures in one step results from the fact that the rear panels of the shelving structures are slidably movable. Thus a multiplicity of such struc tures may be places one behind the other, while the back closures are kept open, whereby they are capable of being filled jointly from one side with cigarettes. The back closures may be put on only after filling and the structures may then be separated.

According to the present invention the accounting for goods still remaining in returned structures may be considerably simplified when exchanging and refilling partially emptied structures. This simplification of accounting is accomplished by providing the structures with counters which register the number and/or the value of the goods still remaining within said structure. It is preferred that the refilling be handled at a central location, particularly by a wholesaler.

Such an arrangement for the counting of remaining packages may, for example consist of contact levers movably arranged upon rails above the stacks of goods, resting upon the first package and being swivellable by spring action. The position of these levers-upon the rail may be indicated by a counter. Single counters may be connected with one or more adding machines or computer devices so that, for example, the whole value may be ascertained of all of the cigarette packages which still remain in a shelving structure. A further advantage of such a counting arrangement for remaining packages is that the contact levers firmly hold the remaining packages during the transportation to the place of the filling operation. Thus eventually even the panel closing the open front during transportation may be left out. Advantageously such a front panel may consist of hinged connected segments which can be folded towards the top cover of the shelving structure and which may be locked shut for closing.

A further improvement of a point of purchase sales rack according to the present invention materializes in an embodiment wherein the individual compartments are replaced by exchangeable drawers which are divided by cross panels for forming compartments for single goods, particularly brands of cigarettes.

This arrangement makes it possible to speed up the filling of shelves which were taken off the emplacement stand of the cash register because it is not necessary to have to add single packages anymore but previously filled compartments may replace completely or partially empty compartments. Thus the shelves have to be removed only for a short time from their position near the cash register. The simple accessibility of the exchangeable slidable drawers, the tops of which are open, furthermore, makes possible the filling up by machine, whereas it would be too complicated to fill a shelving with stationary non-slidable compartments by mechanical means, thus necessitating manual work.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the slidable drawers are furnished with means to connect the drawers releasably and lockably with the display rack.

The present invention encompasses furthermore, the feature whereby the drawers may be moved by sliding their profiled side panels that engage respective profiled ridges arranged between the lateral supports of the shelving structure. This construction results in a particularly simple mounting of the drawers, such mounting obviating a horizontal subdivision of the shelving structure as it was customary for the construction of intermediate bottoms.

Other features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described in relationship to specific embodiments, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like is adapted to be mounted on a stand adjacent to a cash register. The sales rack includes a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves and has a front providing for access to the goods on the shelves. Detachable means are provided on the front of the structure to preclude access to the goods. The stand on which the rack is mounted has a carrier rigidly affixed thereto and means are provided for detachably mounting the shelving structure on the carrier. Lockable means are also provided for locking the shelving structure to the carrier. The shelving structure is constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective and exploded view of a point of purchase sales display rack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line lI-Il in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic and partial side view of a shelf compartment showing the automatic counting means.

FIG. 4 is a perspective and exploded viewof a point of purchase sales display rack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIG. I shows a table or stand I for a cash register. The cash register proper is not shown in the drawings for the sake of greater clarity. An L-shaped supporting tube or pipe 2 is fastened to the table 1, and upon the horizontal leg 3 of the tube 2 a panel-shaped carrier 4 is secured by suitable fastening means. The carrier 4 serves as a lockable and easily releasable support for a shelving structure 5. The shelving structure 5 is notthe same but in general its basic construction corresponds to shelving structures which were used up to now as point of purchase sales racks. Therefore, FIG. 1 also shows the brackets 6 upon the shelving structure 5, such brackets 6 having been used heretofore to fasten the shelving structure on the cross struts 7.

The present invention differs from the known conventional arrangement whereby in the latter, the shelving structure was rigidly affixed to the table or the stand and wherein dismounting was only feasible by the bothersome unscrewing of all of the screws which connected the brackets 6 and the cross struts 7. In contrast, according to the present invention, the mounting of the shelving structure 5 is effected by the interposition of the special carrier 4 arranged as hereinafter described. The shelving structure has a base strut 9 which connects upright struts 8 and which is pushed under the free leg 10 of an L-shaped strike rail 11. At the same time the upright struts 8 enter into the recesses 12 in the strike rail '11. Meanwhile base strut 14 which connects the other two upright struts l3 rests upon an impact plate 15 having spaced projecting members 16. The base strut 14 is overlapped by a locking bar or bolt 17 which is insertable in an impact plate 15. The locking bar 17 is a part of a cylinder lock 18 arranged so that the locking bar 17 may be locked when in its closed position.

Of course, the locking and release of the shelving structure 5 upon the carrier 4 which is provided as an intermediate member according to this invention, may be accomplished by other alternate methods. However, provision of a ,mounting and locking arrangement where, as in the above described embodiment, the shelving structure may be lifted upwardly, is very advantageous because there are may cases where there is not sufficient room or space to enable the shelving structure to be lifted off laterally. On the other hand, there is always enough room available to enable a display rack to be lifted off vertically.

Preferably the shelving structure is built generally in the form of a wire rod rack, a feature which makes the goods visible from the outside which is of particular ad vantage for customers.'A wire rod rack construction also leads to a reduction of weight of the shelving structure itself, considering that the shelving structure does not have to be refilled at its regular installed position, but being capable of being taken off when still partially filled and being replaced by a filled shelving structure.

The shelving structure 5 is divided by bottoms 19 into separate storage compartments with the compartments in this particular case being divided by cross panels formed of spaced rods 20. The subdivisions are capable of holding various'brands .of cigarettes. Here it should be pointed out that of course, the display rack of the present invention may also be used for other wares besides cigarettes.

Legend ledges 21 are fastened to the leading edges of the storage bottoms 20 in order to facilitate the refilling of a partly emptied shelf compartment and which is always done in the same order. coincidentally, it is also more convenient for the sales personnel to find cigarette brands desired by customers when the compartments are partly empty.

A front panel 24 consisting in this case of three hinged parts 23 closes the front of the shelving structure 5 for example when the cash register is closed. and particularly during the transportation of the shelving structure 5 between the stockroom and the salesroom, whereby the shelving structure 5 serves simultaneously as a means for transportation of the goods. Each of the hinged parts 23 is provided intrinsically with hooks 25 in order to hang them onto the front cross strut of a storage bottom 19. Locks 27 (HO. 3) may be hung on projecting loops 26 which traverse the rungs f the lowest hinged part 23 in order to close up the front panel.

Guide rails 28 are provided in each compartment of a shelf of the shelving structure which are parallel to the rearwardly inclined bottoms of the storage compartments. Feeler levers 29 are movably mounted on the guide rails 28 so that they always rest or bear on the foremost package. The feeler levers 29 are spring actuated by a spring 30 so that they swivel forward in the direction of the arrow P whenver a package of goods is taken out. A counter 31 is provided which indicates the variable position of the feeler lever 29 upon the guide rail 28 by suitable means. The counter 31 is calibrated either to show the number of packages in a compartment or their value. The counters 31 may be connected. either in groups or all together, with a central counter adding machine or computer device which shows at a glance the value of all packages which are within an exchanged and still partly filled shelving structure. This facilitates the accounting in a preferred arrangement when the restocking of partly emptied structure is not performed by the personnel of the store owner or the last user, which would be near those cash registers where the structures are placed, but by the wholesaler who fills the shelving structures. This obviates completely the stocking by the store owner, because the casy exchangeability or a partly emptied structure of shelving for a new filled structure makes it possible for the wholesaler, or the purchasing center of a chainstore. to pcrfrom complete restocking at regular intervals.

Exchangeable and slidable drawers 31, for example made out of transparent plastic, are provided for the division of the shelving 5 in the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4. The slidable drawers 31 are provided with cross panels 32 which divide the drawers 31 into several compartments for various goods or various brands of identical goods. These drawers 31 form a box-like structure which have a rear panel 33 against which the goods therein abut. The top of the drawers 31 are not covered in order to make mechanical filling possible or in order to cooperate with a means to count the inventory. The latter is not shown for claritys sake.

A front cover for the exchangeable drawers during the use of the point of purchase sales rack is not needed. with the exception of the optional legend ledges which may form a part of the drawers 31. Also there could be ledge-shaped connections between the lateral struts 8 and 13 situated upon the gripping side of the shelving structure. In order to prevent dumping or falling out of the contents of the drawers during transportation from the place of filling to the place of use, the drawers 31 may be constructed on their front side, for example in such a Way that guide ways are placed on the front and so that: a front panel may be releasably connected to the drawer.

During use the contents of the drawers 31 cannot fall out towards the front because the drawers are tilted, as is conventional with such racks, in such a way that the lower edge 34 of the rear panel of the drawer lies lower than the lower edge 35 of the front side where the goods are handled. In order to provide slidable support for the drawers 31, the shelving structure 5 is provided with profiled ledges 36, 37 which are arranged between the lateral struts 8 and 13. Lateral flanges 42, 43 are intrinsically connected to lateral panels 40, 41 on the drawers 31 to fit into the grooves 38, 39 in the aforementioned profiled legdes 36, 37 respectively. Known construction arrangements include bottom ledges as positioning planes for the offered goods, but they are superfluous here. This simplifies the construction of the shelving proper which means it consists of fewer parts and also reduces its cost.

If the shelving structure is not provided with a rear panel, non-illustrated arresting means may be provided on the ledgers 36, 37 and/or upon the drawers 31. It would also be possible to provide closure means on the end of the recesses 38, 39 in the ledges 36, 37 or for example projections on one part and recesses on the other part, which projections and recesses mesh at a certain position of the drawer in the shelving structure.

If desired the described arrangement may advantageously be provided with a detachable, eventually lockable front panel, and furthermore with an arrangement for counting and indicating the amount of goods within the shelving structure.

In addition to the already mentioned arresting means in between the shelving and the drawers in a predetermined position, the sales display rack may eventually be provided with further means of latching, which are capable of preventing the drawers from falling out, for example during the transportation of filled racks.

It is also advantageous to provide for the point of purchase sales display rack of FIG. 4 a cover which detachably closes the anterior side and which is particularly capable of being upwardly hingeable, the cover on the one hand preventing falling out of the goods from the shelving compartments, and thereby also the falling out of the slidable drawers themselves from the shelving structure, and allowing furthermore a simple closing up when the store is shut down.

The present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Besides a different construction of the shelving structure may be utilized, particularly a onepiece plastic shelving, where for example the front panel is lockable for transportation, might be built like a rolling shutter. It is also possible to build in a different way the automatic arrangement for counting of the leftover goods. Thus it would be possible for instance to place in the compartments, laterally or on their bottom. counting strips which would have markings for each thickness of a particular package. Such strips would preferably make it possible to read directly the number of packages still within a compartment. Such counting strips would facilitate considerably the ascertainment of the contents ofa partially emptied point of purchase sales rack and thus allow the economical use of such racks without automatic counting arrangements.

It is thought that-the invention and many of its atten dant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form heretofore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, front panel means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, of front panel means consisting of a removable front panel which includes a plurality of panel elements, means hinging said panel elements to one another, means for locking said front panel in a closed portion to preclude access to the goods in said shelving structure, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, means detachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.

2. A sales display rack according to claim 1 wherein said stand comprises an L-shaped supporting pipe secured to the support for a cash register, said L-shaped pipe having a horizontally disposed leg, said carrier being mounted on said horizontal leg.

3. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, automatic counters mounted on said shelving structure for determining the number and/or value of the goods remaining in the shelving structure, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, means detachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.

4. A sales display rack according to claim 3 including guide rails mounted on said shelving structure, sensing levers movable and swivelably mounted on said guide rails, and spring means urging said sensing lever against the foremost package, whereby the positions of said sensing levers on said guide rails are indicated by said counters.

5. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, slidable drawers for each of said shelves, cross panels dividing said drawers into compartments for accommodating said goods, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, means de tachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.

6. A sales display rack according to claim 5 wherein said shelving structure is provided with ridge elements mounted between upright struts of said shelving structure, said drawers having side panels having flanges extending therefrom, said flanges being slidably receivable in said ridge elements to thereby provide slidable mounting for said drawers.

7. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure being made from suitable joined wire rods and including pairs of upright struts connected by parallel base struts, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, detachable mounting means detachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, said detachable mounting means including stop elements on said carrier and engaging said shelving structure to prevent lifting and lateral displacement of the shelving structure relative to the carrier, said stop elements being at least partly unlatchable in order to provide for mounting and demounting of said shelving structure on said carrier, said stop elements including an L-shaped striker member and a stop plate, one of said base struts being arranged to underlie one leg of said L-shaped striker member, said L-shaped striker having spaced notches to receive the upright struts which are joined to said one base strut, said other base strut being disposed on said stop plate, retaining means on said stop plate on each side of the upright struts to which said other base struts are joined, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said lockable means comprising a longitudinally movable bolt element and a cylinder lock for locking said bolt element in a longitudinal locking position, said lockable means being mounted on said stop plate with said longitudinally movable bolt being slidable to be disposed to overlie said other base strut to prevent the latter from being lifted off the carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods. 

1. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, front panel means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, of front panel means consisting of a removable front panel which includes a plurality of panel elements, means hinging said panel elements to one another, means for locking said front panel in a closed portion to preclude access to the goods in said shelving structure, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, means detachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.
 2. A sales display rack according to claim 1 wherein said stand comprises an L-shaped supporting pipe secured to the support for a cash register, said L-shaped pipe having a horizontally disposed leg, said carrier being mounted on said horizontal leg.
 3. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, automatic counters mounted on said shelving structure for determining the number And/or value of the goods remaining in the shelving structure, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, means detachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.
 4. A sales display rack according to claim 3 including guide rails mounted on said shelving structure, sensing levers movable and swivelably mounted on said guide rails, and spring means urging said sensing lever against the foremost package, whereby the positions of said sensing levers on said guide rails are indicated by said counters.
 5. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, slidable drawers for each of said shelves, cross panels dividing said drawers into compartments for accommodating said goods, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, means detachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods.
 6. A sales display rack according to claim 5 wherein said shelving structure is provided with ridge elements mounted between upright struts of said shelving structure, said drawers having side panels having flanges extending therefrom, said flanges being slidably receivable in said ridge elements to thereby provide slidable mounting for said drawers.
 7. A sales display rack for goods such as cigarettes and the like and adapted to be mounted on a stand, comprising a shelving structure having means thereon defining a plurality of separate shelves, said shelving structure being made from suitable joined wire rods and including pairs of upright struts connected by parallel base struts, said shelving structure having a front providing access to said goods, means mountable on the front of said shelving structure to preclude access to such goods, said stand having a carrier rigidly affixed thereto, detachable mounting means detachably mounting said shelving structure on said carrier, said detachable mounting means including stop elements on said carrier and engaging said shelving structure to prevent lifting and lateral displacement of the shelving structure relative to the carrier, said stop elements being at least partly unlatchable in order to provide for mounting and demounting of said shelving structure on said carrier, said stop elements including an L-shaped striker member and a stop plate, one of said base struts being arranged to underlie one leg of said L-shaped striker member, said L-shaped striker having spaced notches to receive the upright struts which are joined to said one base strut, said other base strut being disposed on said stop plate, retaining means on said stop plate on each side of the upright struts to which said other base struts are joined, and lockable means for locking said shelving structure to said carrier, said lockable means comprising a longitudinally movable bolt element and a cylinder lock for locking said bolt element in a longitudinal locking position, said lockable means being mounted on said stop plate with said longitudinally movable bolt being slidable to be disposed to overlie said other base strut to prevent the latter from being lifted off the carrier, said shelving structure being constructed and arranged such that it may simultaneously be used as a transportation container for the goods. 